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Concurrence, with reservations

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Illinois

* I agree with much of this Tribune editorial…

The solution to CPS’ crisis is the same as the solution to the state’s budget crisis: a deal among Madigan, Cullerton, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the man who would sign it into law: Gov. Bruce Rauner. What should be on the table? Deeper central-office spending cuts at CPS. The closing of half-empty schools. Teachers should agree to pay their share of pension contributions, so CPS no longer has to pay its share and most of the teachers’ share.

Rauner has offered to help. If the state is to somehow come up with more money for CPS, or extend the terrible practice of delaying pension contributions, Chicago Democrats have to start making concessions on his political and economic reform agenda. He’s determined to reduce the structural costs of government and boost the economic climate in this state. Rauner is ready to deal.

But he’s not ready to cave. On Monday, Rauner reminded Democrats that “misguided state policies” caused CPS’ plight. These are policies they championed, policies for which they voted.

Does that sound like a governor about to crack because Democrats in Chicago and Springfield refuse to cut a deal with him? We don’t think so either.

Democrats have to deal with Rauner. They have to — eek! — compromise with him if they hope state taxpayers will rescue CPS.

You want something? Give something. If you don’t like what the governor is offering, make another suggestion.

The Democrats do need to start making some politically doable counter proposals rather than just allowing the governor to constantly negotiate against himself. It’s the only way we’re ever going to find out if Gov. Rauner really does want to make a deal, as the Tribune believes, or whether, as many Democrats believe, he’s only interested in busting unions.

* On the other hand, the Democrats are right to be wary of what could happen to them if they start negotiating before the candidate filing period concludes at the end of this month. They could wind up with primary opponents and a union base that’s so angry at them for caving that they wouldn’t be able to adequately defend themselves.

I also highly doubt that very many legislators of either party would be willing to agree to a tax hike before that filing period ends - and make no mistake, a tax hike is almost assuredly at the end of this ugly highway.

We’re gonna be stuck in the muck for a while longer, campers.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 1:58 pm

Comments

And what assurance is Rauner willing to give that there will be no hostages next year for whats left on the turnaround agenda?

And even if he gave assurances would the leaders believe him? Should they?

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:08 pm
The Democrats are not “ready to cave” on union issues either and I doubt they will. Other issues are undoubtedly open to negotiation. Thus far, Rauner is hardly negotiating against himself. As Rich has pointed out previously, giving up something you were obviously never going to get is not really giving up anything.

Comment by JackD Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:09 pm
Treat the Chicago Public. School District like ALL other Illinois public school districts. Get a copy of the Illinois School Code and you will see that there is a LARGE separate section dedicated solely to the Chicago system.

Comment by Buzzie Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Busting unions is not some nefarious plot of Rauner’s - if the state were not 6 Billion in the Red then he would leave them alone. Rather, work rules reform is a logical place to focus on to reduce the our indebtedness. Rauner needs to get something in return for the CPS deal and other priorities on the revenue side - giving local govt units flexibility on prevail wage and the like seem reasonable.

Comment by quickpixTom Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:13 pm
==Get a copy of the Illinois School Code and you will see that there is a LARGE separate section dedicated solely to the Chicago system. ==

Would you perhaps like to enlighten us to why that Is so bad? Maybe a few examples of unjustified differences?

Do you really think CPS should be treated the same way rural Cumberland country schools are? You really think the issues are the same?

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Buzzie, Rauner wants to do the opposite of what you propose.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Afternoon Rich,

Gov Rauner is happy you’ve read his ‘Rauner Points ™’ editorial today. He’d also like to remind everyone that by January, there will be hostages left, so he’ll be looking for some fresh ones.

Best,
ck!

Comment by How Ironic Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:14 pm
===if the state were not 6 Billion in the Red then he would leave them alone===

LOL

Please Google the phrase “raison d’etre.”

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:16 pm
- quickpixTom - Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:13 pm:

“Busting unions is not some nefarious plot of Rauner’s.”

Yes, you are correct, it’s not a nefarious plot. It’s a stated goal and very public policy.

Comment by How Ironic Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Come January…

Rauner will need 17 less Democrats, and the Dems will know the landscape of the primary and general election coming up.

Rauner is counting on the 67 Raunerite “green lights”

The “13 and 10″ Democrats needed will dictate how far the Turnaround Agenda goes.

This is awful for the GOP GA. They’re chits in the game, yet again.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:19 pm
==if the state were not 6 Billion in the Red then he would leave them alone==

Please try to connect those dots. I assume you have some analysis you are hiding that shows increased state revenues from repealing prevailing wage laws? Enlighten us. And Don’t forget to include the drop in salaries for workers here plus the amount of IL workers replaced by cheap, unskilled Indiana labor.

You make it seem self-evident therefore, you must have some information that I am not privy to. Im waiting…

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:23 pm
@quickpixTom: I wasn’t suggesting it was a “nefarious plot”; rather I was suggesting it won’t fly. Beyond that, the notion that the unions are responsible for all the red ink ignores the legislative and executive negligence over a very long time and both parties’ administrations and legislative control. Furthermore, the need for revenue is a governmental need, not a party need and, therefore, holding it hostage for policy preferences is both inappropriate and irresponsible.

Comment by JackD Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:25 pm
“…make no mistake, a tax hike is almost assuredly at the end of this ugly highway.”

Not just a tax hike. And this will require a constitutional amendment, I know, and this us highly unlikely, but we need not only a tax hike. We also need to jettison the flat tax in favor or a progressive tax. It should be blindingly obvious that we just cannot meet our obligations with a flat tax.

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:26 pm
==if the state were not 6 Billion in the Red then he would leave them alone.==

So weird, then, that he cannot show his work on how busting unions closes that $6 billion gap.

C’mon, he was whining about unions back when he was just a donor to Daley and Rahm. It’s the only reason he took a job that starts out $6 billion in the hole.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:26 pm
“You want something? Give something.”

You want something? Give everything.

Fixed it.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:28 pm
===If you don’t like what the governor is offering===

Okay. He’s been offering nothing. And we want something. What do you do when the man outright refuses to do his job? Yeah, if the governor is willing to end his strike, yes let’s deal. Let’s get it done. We’re waiting….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Rich nails it again.

re January being the month a deal is made? ==the Democrats are right to be wary of what could happen to them if they start negotiating before the candidate filing period concludes at the end of this month==

They are right. It appears Rauner’s January estimate was also right. Negotiations will not progress until after the filing deadline and there will fewer votes to lift in January.

He is more savvy and flexible than some give him credit for.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:37 pm
===Teachers should agree to pay their share of pension contributions, so CPS no longer has to pay its share and most of the teachers’ share.===

I think that this is a good idea. However, if this is not acceptable to some people then I say that the idea that

===… the state is to somehow come up with more money for CPS …===

is not acceptable to me. Rather than higher taxes for State tax payers to fund CPS pensions, the burden of funding pensions for CPS workers should be placed on Chicago property owners. Keep in mind that Chicago property owners pay the lowest property tax rate in all of Cook County.

Comment by Hit or Miss Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Wait. Today’s not April 1st.

Comment by Georg Sande Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:44 pm
Nick Name, welcome to the Capitol Fax Progressive Income Tax Club! It’s unfortunate we always hear the reasons it cannot happen in IL, but you’ll be hearing it soon enough, a lot of it coming from the people that you would think that would have reason to advocate from it.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:56 pm
Trib has it right and it’s the mismanagement of the CPS by Chicago Dems that has led to this problem. If they want more money then break up the district and take the control away from the mayor’s office, give it back to the people like every other school district in Illinois. The state has other needs for the money the CPS teachers union wants.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:56 pm
antecdotally, many teachers and state employees are ok with upping theor contributions, they mostly just want it phased in over time instead of a large chunk at one go

Comment by Ghost Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:03 pm
=== Rauner is counting on the 67 Raunerite “green lights” ===

Rauner only has 16 House GOP votes for a tax hike. His Turnaround agenda is not going very far.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:05 pm
There should be cuts in IL, but no time is it ever is it the politically connected middle management fat. What makes these people who seem so unnecessary so impervious to these cuts? I would suspect the middle management types would have been the first to get cut out by Rauner when he took office.

Anyone want to take a stab at what’s going on here?

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:08 pm
Politics it’s all politics and assuring that you remain in office. A good argument for term limits.

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:09 pm
A tax hike has been obvious since Jan. 1.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Wordslinger, before that even.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:14 pm
I do not agree with the Tribune editorial. Several things should be done as part of any bail out agreement but they are not what the Tribune is discussing. First, CPS should call a PTELL referendum for an amount above the cap that would lower what the state might need to help with CPS with. Second, the pension debt should be restructured in terms of the length of time needed for the Chicago fund to reach the 90% vested level required by current law, as this will reduce the annual payment required by CPS. Third there should be a phase out of the pension pick up for CTU members linked to future raises.

Once these things are in place or at least in the works a rational discussion can be had about a bail out deal. Governor Rauner needs to understand that the State School Code at 105 ILCS 5/1H-15 CPS can appeal to ISBE for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel if it cannot pay its bills. At that point ISBE and the State as a whole would become effectively the receiver for CPS. If ISBE denies that appeal I have little doubt many lawyers will be filing against the ISBE indicating they are violating the State Constitution.

Ultimately doing nothing is not an option for Governor Rauner in relationship to this issue.

Comment by Rod Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:15 pm
I get tired of the false argument “teachers should pay their share” which is nothing more than propaganda— total comp is total comp whatever sector your in.

Comment by Liberty Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:24 pm
They have to — eek! — compromise with him if they hope state taxpayers will rescue CPS. ==

Still confused.

How does one ‘compromise’ with a guy whose idea his: “I’ll ‘negotiate’ just as soon as you ‘capitulate’ to everything and every demand I want?

Comment by sal-says Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:42 pm
Even with the tax hike, there will be cuts.

Moody’s, U of I and more say even reinstating the tax hike will not be enough to close our budget gap.

Ugh.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:46 pm
== and flexible than some give him credit for. ==

Don’t EVER recall seeing Raunner & flexible in the same sentence!

Comment by sal-says Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Schools exist for the purpose of providing academic and social experiences to students. Those programs should be developed by educators who have the training and experience and not politicians. That is not to say they should not be accountable, but that accountability should be focused toward the students parents and the school district’s taxpayers rather than the political dictates and dogma of a state legislature. Also, an elected school board has more credibility to its local community than does the appointed school board that has a more political allegiance to the appointer.

Comment by Buzzie Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 3:51 pm
First, get rid of the silly front license plates. Then quit funding the frivolous state fair. Then legalize recreational marijuana. Hundreds of millions in new revenues. A casino for Chicago, why not? Put the income tax back at 5% and tax retirement income. Home free.

Comment by Striketoo Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:32 pm
Seems like only two factions at the negotiating table. The Governor represents business, and the Dems represent unionized government labor. Once upon a time, the Dems in IL also spoke for non-union private sector workers. Who speaks for them now, especially since they will be asked to pick up the tab? Maybe the Dems could speak during November on issues for common working folk which wouldn’t irritate the gov unions and precipitate primary opponents. Surely there must be something to replace the constant drone of CPS and pension issues, at least for a few weeks.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:37 pm
“- Nick Name - Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 2:26 pm:”

No to a “progressive” tax

It will hurt the middle class

I am fine with a tax hike but not a progressive tax that will keep going up and up

Also, get rid of the credits and deductions

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:44 pm
Helping union workers also helps non-union workers. The impact of unions on total nonunion wages is almost as large as the impact on union wages.

Comment by Enviro Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:45 pm